This book is framed around controversial issues such as the banning of mephedrone, whether alcohol is more harmful than many illegal drugs, and whether addiction can be cured. Along the way, we'll learn how different drugs work, why we take them and what the future might hold. The focus is largely on what are usually considered "recreational" drugs, but almost all have medical uses as well, and there is a chapter on therapeutics like antidepressants. My primary aim is to help you become better informed about the harms of taking drugs, as well as the benefits, so that you can make better decisions about the risks you want to take with your own body (and perhaps with your career and family life). Even if you're not the sort of person who'd consider taking illegal drugs, you'll still need to make decisions about alcohol, coffee, tobacco, and medication prescribed by your doctor. There's a chapter at the end aimed at parents, to help them talk to their children about drugs, but I hope a lot of the "kids" themselves will be reading this, too.

When I first started working with the government, I thought that our drugs policies were broadly going in the right direction. As time went by and I realised the extent of the perverse consequences the policies were causing, I came to the conclusion that the Misuse of Drugs Act is no longer fit for purpose and needed to be thoroughly revised. The crucial point is that I changed my mind. Being willing to change our minds in the light of new evidence is essential to rational policy-making. As long as our politicians refuse to consider any framework other than prohibition and criminalisation, then science and evidence will be considered dangerous, and those who champion them will be sidelined and even sacked. I hope that this book will contribute to a new understanding of the issues around drugs that is rational, scientific and humane.

Drug prohibition has not worked in the past, does not work now, and will not work in the future. Recognition of that truth eventually will force drug-policy makers to legalize or at least de facto decriminalize the drugs now prohibited. What are the benefits and costs of the legalization option?

BENEFITS

Legalization will lead to at least eight beneficial outcomes:

BENEFIT NUMBER ONE: A SAVING OF $200 BILLION OR MORE PER YEAR

The federal, state, and local governments spend about $100 billion a year on law-enforcement and criminal-justice programs. About $35 billion of that is directly related to drug-law enforcement. Probably another $15 billion is related to crimes committed to obtain drug money or is otherwise systemically related to drug commerce. Hence, about $50 billion per year spent on law enforcement could be saved if drugs were legalized. As Gore Vidal put it, "fighting drugs is nearly as big a business as pushing them."

Drug legalization threatens the jobs and career trajectories of police officers and politician-drug warriors. Defence attorneys and prosecutors, who make their living on drug cases, will also lose from drug legalization. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officer Michael Levine exaggerated when he told CBS News: "The whole drug war is a political grab bag, in that everybody has got their arm in looking for that political jackpot that will either win them an election, win them a lucrative position as a consultant or you name it," but serious de-escalation of the drug war - to say nothing of legalization - does threaten tens of thousands of careers that the taxpayers would no longer need to support. That is a major impediment to legalization. Nonetheless, many law-enforcement officers are well ahead of politicians in recognizing the futility and economic wastefulness of the drug war. As Robert Stutman, previously a high official of the DEA, says, "Those of us who carry a badge learned a long time ago we're not going to solve the problem, and yet an awful lot of policy makers continue to depend on us, and we keep telling them we can't do it."

Ralph Salerno, a famous organized-crime expert and long-time drug warrior himself, goes further. He says that the drug war not only "will never work" but that police on the front line, risking their lives and their physical, psychological and moral health, "are being lied to, just as I was lied to 20 years ago."

When analyzing trends in adolescent use of marijuana, researchers usually discuss the national average trends. They do point out, however, that on narrower, individual levels, there are many subgroup differences based on gender, race/ethnicity, region of the country, college plans, socioeconomic level, and whether the teen lives in an urban or rural area. For this discussion, we rely on the national average trends; specific differences of these subgroups are reported elsewhere. It is also important to know when analyzing statistics that these surveys rely on selfreporting, a style that can contribute to some underreporting when teens are being asked to report illegal drug use. The data from these three major surveys (NHSDA, MTF, and DAWN) provide a great deal of insight into recent trends in adolescent use of marijuana. Among 12- to 17-year-olds, the NHSDA reports:

• In 1999, the national average age of first-time marijuana
  use was 16.2 years old. Comparatively, the national average
  age of first-time alcohol use was 15.7 years old.
  (Other sources cite the average age of first marijuana use
  as 14, and first alcohol use at about age 12.)
  


• From 1990 to 1996, the number of first-time marijuana
  users increased significantly (from 1.4 million users in 1990
  to 2.6 million in 1996). However, since 1996, the annual
  number of new users has fallen to about 2.0 million in
  1999. These numbers show a steady decline in the number
  of teenagers who are trying marijuana for the first time.
  


• In 2000, 9.7 percent of adolescents reported past-month
  use of illicit drugs (meaning that an illicit drug was used
  at least once within 30 days of responding to the survey).
  Slightly over 7 percent of adolescents specifically reported
  marijuana use, with young men having a slightly higher
  rate of use than young women. Thus, past-month
  marijuana use constituted an overwhelming majority
  (73 percent) of adolescent illicit drug use.
  
  
  
  
   
  

Medicinal cannabis can be consumed in different ways: infusion, inhalation or ingestion. Inhalation is the fastest route, since the active substances reach the lungs directly and absorption into the bloodstream is faster. In this route use is made of "vaporizers," i.e., devices which heat the cannabis and render the active drug substances volatile to facilitate penetration into the lungs. The difference with respect to smoking the plant (combustion) is that the latter option is more toxic, since it produces certain carcinogens and agents that irritate the respiratory tract. The maximum effect via the inhalation route is reached after 15 minutes, with a duration of 2-3 hours. In the case of infusions, a little oil, butter or whole milk should be added to the infusion or tea, since cannabinoids are liposoluble (soluble in oil) and do not dissolve in water. In this case the effects are noticed after 30-90 minutes, with a maximum or peak effect after 2-3 hours, and a duration of up to 8 hours after administration.
 

Laws prohibiting drug use and possession are frequently justified on the basis that they deter people from using drugs. However the effect of a drugs arrest tends to consolidate or stimulate drug use, rather than deterring the user from continuing or indeed experimenting with other drugs. Drug users who have been arrested for drugs offences typically use a wider range of drugs more frequently and more heavily than users with clean records. They also tend to give higher ratings to drugs.
 

THE HIGH

We should now have an idea as to what we are looking for in terms of a good quality smoke. We are looking for non-pollinated female plants that have flowered, producing lots of buds with resin glands that contain high levels and amounts of THC. We are also looking for plants that have been well cured and processed in a way that allows us to sample the full flavor, smell and taste of the plant. One must also be aware that some plants are very potent and can literally knock one's socks off. This is where taste comes into play. Some people like plants that give a head high but do not cause one to fall asleep. Other people like plants that give a down effect and cause the body to become less responsive to stimuli. The body down is called 'The couch-lock effect.' The head high is simply called 'The head high.' Now another thing must be considered here. Remember that we talked about Species of Cannabis - Sativa, Indica and Rudereralis? Well Rudereralis is hardly used much today. Sativa and Indica are extremely common and these 2 species will be the main focus of this book. Also both species have two different forms of high. The high type of each species can also be controlled depending on the time at which you harvest. Not only this but the species can be crossed to produce Indica/Sativa type plants or Sativa/Indica type plants. This may sound all very confusing at first, but it is in fact all quite simple. We will explain more about this in our next chapter.

The results of this study do not provide justification for the sharp A, B, or C divisions of the current classifications in the UK Misuse of Drugs Act. Distinct categorisation is, of course, convenient for setting of priorities for policing, education, and social support, as well as to determine sentencing for possession or dealing. But neither the rank ordering of drugs nor their segregation into groups in the Misuse of Drugs Act classification is supported by the more complete assessment of harm described here. Sharply defined categories in any ranking system are essentially arbitrary unless there are obvious discontinuities in the full set of scores. Figure 1 shows only a hint of such a transition in the spectrum of harm, in the small step in the very middle of the distribution, between buprenorphine and cannabis. Interestingly, alcohol and tobacco are both in the top ten, higher-harm group. There is a rapidly accelerating harm value from alcohol upwards. So, if a three-category classification were to be retained, one possible interpretation of our findings is that drugs with harm scores equal to that of alcohol and above might be class A, cannabis and those below might be class C, and drugs in between might be class B. In that case, it is salutary to see that alcohol and tobacco - the most widely used unclassified substances - would have harm ratings comparable with class A and B illegal drugs, respectively.

Modern bongs can be rather elaborate in their construction, but most bongs are still usually relatively simple. They will normally feature a small bowl attached to a stem, which is inserted into a cylinder that is usually partially filled with water. The bowl holds the material that is to be smoked and will often hold only as much material as may be burned and inhaled in one deep breath. The stem connects the bowl to the cylinder, which will always have at least one open end from which to inhale the smoke, A bong may also have a hole on the side of the chamber, above the level at the water, which is referred to as the "carb" - a term that is likely derived from the word carburettor. The use of a carb makes it easier to clear the chamber once it is filled With smoke. Some bongs may not have a carb hole, but rather an easily-removable bowl - insulated in some way to prevent burning one's fingers - which allows the chamber to be cleared more easily as well. Hookahs may or may not have some sort of carb. A carb is not essential.

Using a bong is quite easy. First that which is going to be smoked is placed in the bowl. Then the mouth is placed over the open end of the bong, and a finger is placed over the carb hole. Smoke is drawn into the bong as the contents of the bowl are burned. The smoke is cooled and filtered as it passes through the water. The remaining space within the cylinder allows for the expansion of the smoke. Once the bong is filled with smoke, the carb is released and the smoke is inhaled.

Amazon.com review:

Soma has become synonymous with a mindful approach to cannabis gardening and an earth-friendly lifestyle. Soma's varieties of marijuana are considered legendary and have been big winners at the most reputable harvest festivals of Europe. Now for the first time, he shares the philosophy and methods that distinguish him as a world-class breeder of cannabis in one concise volume. Essays include detailed advice on organic approaches to growing the plant and address the specific needs of sophisticated connoisseurs and enthusiasts. Two full-colour sections of Soma's lush photography reveal the colourful beauty and range of the cannabis plant. Perfectly suited to the home grower, Soma's advice is inspiring and informative, emphasizing the sublime qualities of marijuana's flavour and effects when grown in optimal conditions.
 

The issues associated with drug use and abuse in contemporary society are vexing subjects, fraught with political agendas and ideals that often obscure essential information that teens need to know to have intelligent discussions about how to best deal with the problems associated with drug use and abuse. Drugs: The Straight Facts aims to provide this essential information through straightforward explanations of how an individual drug or group of drugs works in both therapeutic and non-therapeutic conditions; with historical information about the use and abuse of specific drugs; with discussion of drug policies in the United States; and with an ample list of further reading.

From the start, the series uses the word "drug" to describe psychoactive substances that are used for medicinal or nonmedicinal purposes. Included in this broad category are substances that are legal or illegal. It is worth noting that humans have used many of these substances for hundreds, if not thousands of years. For example, traces of marijuana and cocaine have been found in Egyptian mummies; the use of peyote and Amanita fungi has long been a component of religious ceremonies worldwide; and alcohol production and consumption have been an integral part of many human cultures' social and religious ceremonies. One can speculate about why early human societies chose to use such drugs. Perhaps, anything that could provide relief from the harshness of life - anything that could make the poor conditions and fatigue associated with hard work easier to bear - was considered a welcome tonic. Life was likely to be, according to the seventeenth century English philosopher Thomas Hobbes, "poor, nasty, brutish and short." One can also speculate about modern human societies' continued use and abuse of drugs. Whatever the reasons, the consequences of sustained drug use are not insignificant - addiction, overdose, incarceration, and drug wars - and must be dealt with by an informed citizenry.
 

GANJA ETIQUETTE

Written By: Groda Lotsapot

1. The person who rolls the joint (no matter whose weed it is) gets to spark up the joint and get first hit
2. If someone rolls a nice joint, it's good to give the person a complement on his rolling skills. 3. If someone starts bogarting the bowl and starts using the excuse that it's okay for him to Bogart it since it's his weed; this is definitely not cool. The punishment depends on the quality of the weed and how much he put in. (if it was real crappy and he was real cheap with it, then you bug on the person and rag on him)
4. If someone is too palsy to light the bowl (due to being too stoned or the person is just a retard) then they must relinquish control of the lighter to someone more able to get it lit. This does NOT mean the person who lights gets free hits... this privilege tends to get abused ("hey lemme light it for you.")
5. If someone is so much of a palsy that they blow INTO the pipe/joint and blow all the shit on the floor, this person must be ragged on and the person can't smoke on the next round (unless it was his stuff)
6. If you smoke with someone in your house, you should let him or her eat some munchies you may have lying around... don't be cheap with your food, if you have any.
7. If someone who's smoked asks for a sip of your soda, you must give him some, (cotton mouth is not fun).
8. Converse of #7: if you ask for a sip, don't take a large gulp.

Every weekend around the world, nearly a million people are taking a drug they call Ecstasy. They hear from friends and the media that this "love drug" is an aphrodisiac, capable of creating feelings of love and empathy with others, or that it induces a "blissed-out" state, marketed as euphoria. The British government estimates that more than half a million hits of Ecstasy are sold every weekend in the United Kingdom, and authorities calculate that the use of Ecstasy increased by more than 4,000 percent between 1990 and 1995. In the United States, hundreds of thousands of doses of Ecstasy are consumed weekly; in the first five months of 2000, over four million hits of the drug were confiscated.

Although some will take Ecstasy in small social gatherings, the majority of people are trying this drug in a setting known as a rave. These are large, allnight dance parties in secret locations or in clubs, where techno music is typically played. The rave scene has been growing since the late 1980s in the United Kingdom and the United States - it has become a huge cultural phenomenon, eclipsing the LSD-inspired movement of the sixties in terms of the number of participants and the movement's longevity. In Spain, Germany, Israel, and Australia, weekly raves attract tens of thousands of revelers, and the majority of those in attendance are specifically seeking out Ecstasy. Even India is experiencing a significant increase in Ecstasy consumption, as the "new drug craze," now fifteen years old and still going strong, finally reaches that continent.

For a long time until the current hashish revivial, hashish was often made using a metal press, heated from below by cans of kerosene. Beautifully cured/aged resin hardly needs any heat, any energy or any force to readily bond. If it keeps falling apart then it is not really ready for pressing.